Cathay stands firm against Jetstar Hong Kong

By Dino D'Amore
October 23, 2014 20:10

Cathay Pacific’s head of corporate development, James Barrington, has stated that the airline is staunchly opposing regulatory approval for Jetstar Hong Kong since it remains convinced that the airline is a “branch office of Qantas” and so fails to meet the legal definition of a local entity.

Barrington said: “It looks to us that Jetstar doesn’t have its principal place of business in Hong Kong. It is a branch office of an Australian airline. All the legal advice taken has said it just doesn’t meet the Basic Law.”

Qantas, China Eastern and a Hong Kong company controlled by Stanley Ho own Jetstar Hong Kong. The airline maintains that it will get approval eventually.

Barrington added: “A franchise operation of McDonald’s in Hong Kong with a 51 percent local partner is still McDonald’s based in North America. A franchise operation of Qantas in Hong Kong, albeit with a majority local partner, is still a franchise operation.”